The disciples come to Jesus and tell Him don’t you know the Pharisees were offended? And He says, yes, that’s the point. They are caught up in tradition and rituals. Jesus greatly ashamed the leaders, exposing them for the hypocrites they are.
We need to be careful to be sure we are doing thing’ s God’s way. We have created images that we are tempted to bow down to in our culture as well. Modern idols include:
⁃ Individualism – god of freedom
⁃ Elitism – god of superiority. I’m better than you or my group is better than yours.
⁃ Indulgence – god of passion and desire. Setting up our own desires in place of those of God. Started with Eve.
Any of these will prevent us from placing God first.
Jesus is exposing the leaders love of themselves, their feeling of superiority. They have set up other idols that are not God. How do we avoid doing the same, of putting the church on a pedestal as an idol?
1. Do not equate man-made tradition with divine doctrine. Matt. 15:9.
This is what the book of Romans is all about, where Christians were taking things of the law and saying they were necessary to follow to be a Christian. The Pharisees were making their own boundary markers of what it means to be holy and righteous. What about our own man made traditions, our own boundary markers. Things like changing to just one service on Sunday, and some condemning brethren for doing so. Is it God’s law to meet twice, or tradition? What about dress codes? Biblical principles on modesty teach us that we should dress respectfully. Its wrong to dress shabbily or guady to draw attention to self and distract from honoring God; however, it becomes a problem when we hold specific dress standards as God mandated and equate them with a person’s holiness. That doesn’t mean we should come with cutoffs and sweatshirts, intentionally dressing shabbily. Dressing modestly and respectfully encompasses a wide range appropriate attire, and we’re smart enough to be discerning about what is fitting in circumstances we find ourselves in, including worship.
2. Find comfort in fellowship, not ritual and ceremony, Matt. 15:8.
Do we make an idol out of our correctness? Jeremiah tells the people, in chapter 7, don’t put your trust in the temple. Remember Shiloh, that model city? I destroyed it and I will destroy your temple likewise if that is where you put your trust. Do we do the same? Do we feel God has to bless us because we have followed everything in the Bible in regard to His church and in worship? We need to take God’s commandments seriously but it is God we are to honor, not strict commandment keeping. Going through all the correct motions when we assemble doesn’t mean we are righteous. God is not impressed with how big a church is. He is impressed with people willing to die to themselves and be raised up a new man in the image of Jesus.
3. Strive for holiness not “church image.” Matt. 15:2, 5.
It’s not about elevating ourselves and being better than some other group. It’s about being holy and honoring God. Who cares what other churches think, what the world thinks? What matters is what God thinks. Reputation is a poor replacement for godliness. We are here because we are sinners redeemed by Jesus blood. That is what we want visitors to see. We are here to help people broken by sin to be healed. It’s not about image, it’s about holiness.
There is danger of idols finding their way into the people of God. If we keep God in His rightful place His church will be as it ought to be. We keep His kingdom first and everything else will fall to place.
Sermon by Brent Moody
